"Liberate yourself from the thoughts, prejudices, and stereotypes you believe you were born to "
Once, my teacher was sharing her happiness about harvesting some vegetables from her kitchen garden. There were certain feelings mixed with that—the independence she got, the bliss of sharing with her neighbors, the sense of community. Ostensibly, you might link it to the market economy. But it's not about that principle of kitchen property she holds. Instead, she gained this happiness from equality and socialism .It came from the feeling that she is equal to others who can harvest and enjoy the profits of their labor without an entrepreneur.
So, I belong to a nation renowned for its multicultural diversity. Importantly, it is a society where people were subjugated under a caste hierarchy for centuries, followed by imperialism and capitalism. This history of subjugation has prevented true freedom and independence for many, and this lack of freedom persists even today. As a child, I also accepted the hierarchy that existed in society. The weight of subjugation hinders every aspect of human life, I believe, and that we all know but intentionally avoid and believe this subjugation is natural even foster that. As Louis Althusser noted, people reproduce their own subjugation through social structures and institutions.
We all believe we are subjugated at some point, and it seems nothing will change. However, one thing that surprised me is the psychological freedom I gained by believing in a particular ideology: Socialism
As Hegel noted in "Phenomenology of Mind," "The mind achieves its freedom by recognizing itself in its own contradictions and overcoming them." This insight gave me a sense of liberation amidst societal constraints.
How? It's quite simple, and we all know.
Recognizing our own worth and potential is crucial in overcoming the limitations imposed by societal inequalities. Throughout history, these inequalities have eroded confidence and stifled opportunities for many individuals, whether due to factors like caste, class, or slavery. Frantz Fanon's seminal work, "The Wretched of the Earth," illustrates how colonial powers not only physically subjugated populations but also manipulated their minds, perpetuating a cycle of oppression. True liberation stems from embracing our intrinsic value and acknowledging the equality of all human beings. By fostering a culture of respect, collaboration, and empowerment, we can collectively break free from constraints and pave the way for genuine freedom and progress.
The epistemological responsibility we hold, as some philosophers argue, carries significant implications for society. Beliefs influence attitudes, and the belief in socialism can profoundly change every perspective in life. More importantly, it has the potential to eliminate the subjugated part of oneself that contributes to perpetuating societal hierarchies and oppression. Embracing socialist ideals can lead to a fundamental shift in how we view and engage with the world, offering the possibility of liberation from systems of subjugation and inequality.
Back to the kitchen garden, the teacher was confident in her labor, there were no other forces. She did it out of passion and shared with cooperation and thus achieved true liberation based on what she believed. Because the thing she believed was...
( Written by Aathmeeya Anil, a 3rd-year graduate student at SN College Chempazhathy, University of Kerala.)
Comments
Post a Comment